Bernie Masters is a geologist/zoologist who spent 8 years as a member of the Western Australian Parliament. Married to Carolina since 1976 and living in south west WA, Bernie is involved in many community groups. This blog offers insights into politics, the environment and other issues that annoy or interest him. For something completely different, visit www.fiatechnology.com.au for information about vegetated floating islands - the natural way to improve water quality.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Troy Buswell: The Real Risk

In the Busselton Dunsborough Mail of Wednesday March 20, Trevor Sargent (who I don't know) wrote a letter critical of me and of my views about Vasse MP and state treasurer Troy Buswell. In response, I submitted the following letter for publication in the following week's Mail. During the recent election campaign, however, the Mail chose not to print any letters written in support of me and they ran a clearly overt campaign supportive of Buswell. It was not surprising therefore that the following letter was not published published.

In response to Trevor Sargent's criticism of me (letters, Mail, March
20), Troy Buswell and I were candidates for Liberal preselection for
Vasse in 2003. Powerbroker Noel Crichton-Browne had been expelled from
the Party some years previously but he was widely acknowledged within
the party as having control over the Yallingup and Dunsborough branches
and the delegates from these branches voted against me at the
preselection meeting. After losing preselection, I then gave electors
the opportunity to choose between Buswell and myself at the 2005 election.

Crichton-Browne will probably say my claims about him are untrue.
However, both Buswell and Crichton-Browne were publicly interviewed by
the Corruption and Crime Commission over the Smiths Beach proposal.
Former Shire councillor Helen Shervington was quoted as saying that,
after a meeting between Buswell and Crichton-Browne, an agitated Buswell
phoned Shervington to say he had felt threatened by Crichton-Browne and
that his future in the Liberal Party (i.e, his preselection for Vasse)
was at risk if he didn't try to assist the Smiths Beach developers.

Mr Sargent may view Buswell's past behaviour as nothing more than him
being 'a silly boy with his personal life' but I view his antics as also
affecting his public life. My greatest fear is that, should an
unscrupulous person witness a future 'silly' act by Buswell similar to
his (alleged)* 'dry humping' of a party guest at a private function, the witness
could then seek to influence Buswell into making a decision for the
witness's benefit.

Remember: Buswell has admitted having felt threatened by an unelected
person, namely, Noel Crichton-Browne, who sought to influence his
decision as a shire councillor on a sensitive and valuable issue. But
Buswell is now a senior government minister managing a multi-billion
dollar treasury. He seems not to understand that he must maintain a near
unblemished public and private life so that he can perform his duties
without the risk of his being subjected to influence by people who may
witness a future 'silly' act.

Mr Sargent has every right to dismiss my concerns about Buswell but I
have every right to stand for election and, in doing so, to remind
people of his flawed and risky behaviour.